It is no “secret” that the Victoria’s Secret show was just the other day, and already the memes are making the rounds of people feeling fat and not-so-worthy.

Now I must admit, body image issues have almost become a cliché; nonetheless, they remain one of the biggest daily struggles we face.

I have watched the show a few years in a row, and every year my self-esteem takes a dip and I jump onto the crazy training and dieting train—but not this year.

This year I looked at the Angels’ bodies, and I appreciated their beauty. I respect their dedication to their careers, to the art they make, and I respect their gene pools too. And when I say I appreciate their beauty, I really mean that. Without looking for faults to make myself feel a tiny bit better—that’s not cool. I also respect everyone behind the scenes, the organization it takes, the months of planning and the hair and make-up artists.

This year I could look at the pictures all over the Internet and not let it get under my skin.

We shouldn’t let it get under our skin.

We are all beautiful, sexy, special and irreplaceable. I urge us to learn the value of appreciating beauty without feeling guilty or worthless because we don’t fit into all the boxes neatly designed by society. I urge us to start up close, recognizing the magic within.

Is it easy? No!

But not only are we beautiful, we are also strong, and we have the magic within us to create our own beauty—inside and out.

Affirmations have always been my saving grace. Maybe it’s because I’ve noticed that no matter how healthy I eat, or how much I exercise, there is always a little voice inside my head that criticizes, and that’s what I need to work on.

Sometimes I make my own affirmations, but recently I’ve been scrolling through Louise Hay’s website, and I found these great ones:

“I now free myself from destructive fears and doubts.

I love every cell of my body.

I feel glorious, dynamic energy. I am active and alive.

My mind and body are in perfect balance. I am a harmonious being.

Wellness is the natural state of my body.

My self-esteem is high because I honor who I am.

All that I seek is already within me.”

And my favorite, and possibly the most important:

“I choose to feel good about myself each day. Every morning I remind myself that I can make the choice to feel good. This is a new habit for me to cultivate.”

I especially like the last one, because the lesson keeps coming up for me that I have a choice, in every aspect of my life. Realizing, again, that I am in control of my life has changed my perspective. And that is where the change needs to begin—in how I perceive myself.

So let’s take five minutes of our day to sit in silence and give ourselves the love we deserve.

I read the affirmations a few times, and then I take a deep breath and let all the beautiful words sink into my being. And this, as simple as it sounds, has made life much easier.

May we all up the self-love and the magic, and let our beauty shine, touching the beautiful beings around us.

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Relephant Read:

Why I Love Victoria’s Secret Models.

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Author: Gente Coetzee

Editor: Toby Israel

Photo: Eternity Portfolio/Flickr // Joanne Saige Lee/Flickr

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